Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal's Council of Ministers has given its approval for the minting of a redesigned one-rupee coin, which will no longer feature the country's controversial political map. The decision, proposed by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), aims to replace the disputed territorial depiction with an image of the ancient Lo Ghyakar Monastery, located in Mustang's Marang village.
The map in question, adopted in May 2020 by the then-KP Sharma Oli-led government, included the territories of Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, all of which Nepal claims as its own. India, however, maintains that these areas are integral parts of its territory, leading to a long-running border dispute.
Technical Reasons Cited for Redesign
According to NRB spokesperson Guru Prasad Paudel, the primary motivation behind the redesign is to reduce the size and weight of the coins. The new Re 1 coin will be smaller, weighing 3.2 grams instead of 4 grams, and will be made of steel with a steel-white finish, rather than mixed metal. Paudel stated that the political map could not be accommodated on the redesigned, smaller Re 1 coin due to these technical constraints.
While the Re 1 coin will see this significant change, the two-rupee coin is slated to retain the existing political map on one side, with the reverse side featuring the Janaki Temple.
Political Backlash and Territorial Integrity Concerns
The decision has not been without its critics within Nepal. Senior Nepali Communist Party leader Bhim Rawal publicly questioned the government's move, urging for clarification. Rawal asserted that removing the map, including Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh, and Kalapani, from the one-rupee coin and replacing it with the Lo Ghyakar Monastery would constitute “another serious anti-national decision and a blow to Nepal's territorial integrity.” He has called on the government and the ruling Rashtriya Swatantra Party to provide a comprehensive explanation for the change.
Ongoing Border Dispute and Diplomatic Engagements
The territorial dispute between Nepal and India resurfaced recently after Nepal objected to India's use of the Lipulekh route for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, reiterating its claim over the area. India has consistently rejected Nepal's claims, stating they lack historical facts and evidence.
This coin redesign comes amidst an increase in political engagement between Nepal and India. In June, Rashtriya Swatantra Party chief Rabi Lamichhane led a delegation to New Delhi under the BJP's 'Know BJP' initiative, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Furthermore, Prime Minister Balen Shah is reportedly scheduled to hold meetings with both the Indian and Chinese ambassadors this week, marking a departure from his previous practice of avoiding such one-on-one engagements with foreign envoys. These meetings are being coordinated by Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shortly after Shah's government completed its first 100 days in office.